Chelsea’s Season in Turmoil

It couldn’t possibly get any worse for Chelsea. Just one win in six and only scoring four times these are proving difficult times for the club. And it all seems to have occurred since Ray Wilkins’ untimely departure. Chelsea now look a shadow of the team they were at the start of the season.

Their performances haven’t necessarily been bad this past month, they just haven’t managed to string any wins together. It’s that simple.

Chelsea started the season in blistering form beating West Brom and Wigan 6-0 and gave Blackpool plenty to think about from their 4-0 rout. They continued their form into September winning all bar two spirited performances from Manchester City and Newcastle. October was an almost faultless month with Chelsea winning four out of five and looking looking like true champions. Then came November. A 3-0 hammering from Sunderland began their downfall losing a further two games and numerous matches being drawn have dented Chelsea’s title challenge.

December couldn’t have possibly come any sooner as the champions were struggling for form desperately needing a win against Everton to take them back to the summit. Chelsea struggled and were lucky to lead 1-0 at the break. The Blues looked like they had finally got some rhythm together only to concede late on to a Jermaine Beckford header.

This week’s Champions League encounter with Marseille was a dead rubber, as they call it , having already obtained a place in the knockout stages but Ancelotti fielded a strong team with Drogba, Essien, Malouda and John Terry all starting. Chelsea needed this to restore at least some pride but this was not the case as they once again failed to rediscover that impeccable form from earlier this season, conceding a late goal courtesy of some slack defending.

Many have put this weak form down to the absence of England duo Frank Lampard and club captain John Terry, who returned last weekend against the Toffees. Lampard has been out since late August sidelined with a hernia problem which was healed, and then his return was postponed due to a groin injury. There have also been more notable absentees with Michael Essien andAlex both being injured at some point during this season and now Jose Bosingwa is ruled out for two-three weeks with a hamstring strain.

What is also being debated is whether or not Chelsea have missed former assistant coach Ray Wilkins. His departure left many stunned and bewildered as Chelsea started their downward spiral almost directly after his departure. On a side note, Frank Arnesen, Chelsea’s sporting director, resigned soon after to add to the woes leaving Chelsea to lick their wounds.

Chelsea couldn’t possibly be in any worse form coming up to possibly their hardest fixtures to date as they play Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal all in succession. A win against Tottenham could prove vital for the champions’ season, re-igniting the fire that burns ever so brightly at Stamford Bridge.

Author Info

Dylan O'Neill

Hi. I'm Dylan. I'm 17 and I enjoy watching and playing football and dabbling in statistics, predominantly football, among other things. I began writing about football in December 2010 and have continued to do so throughout my years in school, pitching in articles whenever I can. Websites that I've featured on include In Bed With Maradona, World Soccer, Spanishfootball.info, EPL Talk, Bundesliga Talk, Ghost Goal, the (recently deceased) Equaliser, and here on Back Page Football, where I do most of my work.